What does an Instructional Designer do?

[@shawntaeb6511]

I know this post is several years old, but I wanted to thank you for the clear and concise explanation. After 14 years of teaching and training new teachers I am enrolled in a graduate certificate program for instructional design (already have a masters degree). Many people I have talked to have never even heard of an instructional designer so I am definitely sharing this with them!

[@joelgardner]

Shawntae B thanks! What certificate program are yiu in? Best of luck in your studies!

[@DivineEnigma]

Thanks Joel. This will be a very helpful tool in explaining to my family what I am studying. I have been an Art Director/Graphic Designer for years but am now working on a Master's degree to make a career transition into Instructional Design. Unfortunately, the word "design" in the title has made it confusing to explain to my family that this is a different field. Thank you for making the explanation easier.

[@joelgardner]

That is great to hear, David! I wish you the best in your studies. I have found great satisfaction in working in this field. All the best to you.

[@vincentklug]

Very helpful. I appreciate your ability to stay focused and to communicate well with few words.

[@abdullahalotaibi6089]

your explanation is very clear, simple, and helpful.

[@alexandrablond978]

Very clear and helpful. The only thing I would add to "context" is timeframe, since the complexity of the finished product is related to the amount of time available to create it.

[@flagshipbuilds]

Thank you Dr. Gardner. This was very clear. It was exciting to see the Pebble-in-the -Pond model being utilized in the real world.

[@joelgardner]

Thanks, Faizan Mohiuddin! Yes, I like the Pebble in the Pond - a powerful task-centered approach. All the best to you!

[@joelgardner]

You are welcome, Tatia. I am glad it is helpful to you. Best of luck in your studies!

[@xux3na4u]

Great presentation. I've searched information on this topic and still ended up with the same question. After watching you're video I now have a better understanding of the role of an ID.

[@joelgardner]

Erika Azucena Ochoa, thanks for the comment!!!

[@joelgardner]

Thanks, Vincent. I appreciate the comments and am glad to have been helpful!

[@joelgardner]

Alexandra, this is an outstanding observation, I appreciate the insight. The timeline can certainly a profound impact on the finished instructional materials. Thanks for the insight!

[@dr.jonathanbilalabdullahed5113]

Thank you Dr. Gardner this was very helpful and it demystified some of the theory and principles I am currently learning in my M.S. course on instructional design.

[@joelgardner]

You are welcome, I am glad it was helpful. All the best to you in your studies!

[@Soapsoanedesign]

Really clear and inspiring: it made me think of Dewey. Good work and thank you.

[@joelgardner]

Thanks, Paula! I appreciate the feedback. All the best to you!

[@domition5376]

Thanks for the information. I am currently studying ID at UTB and I am excited about entering this field.

[@MikeSimpson1]

Great presentation. I learned a few new things. On the topic of "tools" I would have liked to have seen this in HD- I can only watch this at 360p. Minimum 720p would have made sense.

[@joelgardner]

Good feedback, Mike - thanks.

[@kentuckyliz188]

Thanks for this overview! I am a counselor who teaches some online courses, and have taken lots of training in distance learning technologies. I am thinking about taking some online courses in Instructional Design (IDL) through Gateway Community and Technical College (KY) to improve my knowledge and skills in this area. It's fascinating!

[@joelgardner]

You are welcome, Kilbot. I am glad it has been helpful.

[@arundhenge6922]

thank you very much for your kind acknowledgement. I shall get back to you if I have any query because I am learning technical writing so I may need your valuable help. thank you once again.

[@joelgardner]

Mario, instructional design is a field of practice and many people make their careers out of this work. (I have spent several years of my life designing instruction for institutions of higher education). The typical thing that people do to become an instructional designer is complete a master's degree such as the program that I manage at Franklin University linked above. Many organizations and companies also offer training in instructional Design. Hope this helps!

[@joelgardner]

@edmathewsfamily Thanks for the comment. Instructional design is a field in which we use abstract tools to create concrete things, so hopefully this helps explain what we do. Thanks again!

[@timketadagne5981]

Thanks

[@joelgardner]

Glad it has been helpful, kentuckyliz. Good luck to you in your studies!

[@kilbot42]

Thanks for the explanation - nice visuals, quick and to the point!

[@MurtalaLawal]

Thank you Dr, this is a very informative short clip.....direct to the point.

[@joelgardner]

You're welcome, Martula Lawal!

[@joelgardner]

Thanks, Kattfree, for watching. All the best to you.

[@Aiizusya]

Im going to continue my degree in Instructional Communication and Training.. But it seems that there aren't much information about it.. And the course is totally new at my country.. Thank you for the informative video! ;D

[@joelgardner]

You are welcome, dementeddentist. Good luck to you as you learn more about instructional design!

[@cpparis1]

wish there was an accurate transcript!

[@edmathewsfamily]

Great job! Explains ID very well.

[@herrp8765]

Hey Joel. Can I show this video to my students who are studying ISD and are learning how to produce quality elearning presentations? Thanks much! ~Keith

[@joelgardner]

Sure thing, Keith. Thanks for the implied compliment! I attempted to utilize principles of elearning in the presentation - hopefully it worked out.

[@herrp8765]

joel gardner Thanks so much! If you see any videos on my channel you'd like to use, feel free.

[@joelgardner]

Awesome! Thanks, Keith!

[@realhousewifebiz]

Great information.

[@joelgardner]

Hey, thanks, @Michelle Short! All the best to you!

[@joelgardner]

You are quite welcome, ARUN DHENGE!

[@BigNate84]

Well done Joel

[@Kattfree]

Thanks a lot Joel, short and very interesting :)

[@SophiaLenore]

Really good videos. Just subscribed!

[@GautamBuddhaSiddarth]

very good explanation

[@joelgardner]

Gaurav Garg thanks for the comnent! All the best to you.

[@joelgardner]

@kilbot42 Thanks! I had been thinking about this for a while and thought a concise explanation would be useful.

[@learningsolutions9369]

Do you have stipulations for sharing the video? For example, posting it on a blog?

[@joelgardner]

Hello, Learning Solutions! Feel free to embed this video on your blog anytime. Also, you may want to refer to my other KZbin channel entitled Learning Design for other instructional design videos. Here is the link: kzbin.info/door/z9w-sllDpT-z762oNRYBNw

[@abdullahalotaibi6089]

Thanks a lot Dr. Joel

[@joelgardner]

You are welcome, Abdullah Alotaibi. All the best to you!

[@fadelabbas6042]

Thanks alot

[@joelgardner]

fadel abbas You are welcome, Fadel Abbas!

[@arundhenge6922]

thanx for the video. very helpful

[@mrskamran]

Great presentation!

[@joelgardner]

+mrskamran Thank you for watching. All the best to you!

[@1ladylane]

Thank you for this! Very Helpful.

[@joelgardner]

Thanks, QueenStixx! All the best to you!

[@ElePlus]

Hi. Can anyone give an opinion on whether an ID needs to know programming? Thanks.

[@joelgardner]

Hello, Curso de espanol ElePlus! Here is my short answer. I believe that it is becoming less critical for an instructional designer to know programming (generally). A lot of the tools that designers use are more easily learned and applied and require little programming. There are likely certain programming languages that are important for the designer in specific positions, but for the most part the designer uses technology applications instead of hard programming. Hope this is helpful. I would be interested to read what others thing, as well. Best of luck to you!

[@ElePlus]

Thanks. I am very interested as I have been an online tutor for many years. However, since I have been creating my own Spanish course with an LMS and creating e-content, I am very interested in becoming an ID, however, I would love to specialize on teaching the authoring tools to future users rather than creating courses. Do you think that that is a possible way to get a job? It seems to me, that many creators that use authoring tools learn how to use them on their own rather than taking a course.

[@Joeshmo042]

this seems like a super jargon filled way to say "a great teacher." which is ironic as teachers should not use jargon to teach

[@joelgardner]

Agree to disagree. :)

[@joelgardner]

Thanks, BigNate84!

[@joelgardner]

Thanks, I appreciate!

[@emmabee5027]

So everything is about redundancy? Right?

[@joelgardner]

Hello, Emma Manso! I am not totally sure what you mean about redundancy. I would say instructional design is a dynamic process, and the effective instructional designer has many variables and tools that influence and impact his or her approach.

[@BaboNation]

Hey guys, it's 2017 and I wanted to know what laptop would you recommend for a new grad student of Instructional Design?

[@theodore1228]

You will need a minimum of 16gb memory 32gb is best, i7 processor, excellent video card/graphics card and a SSD Drive (Faster). The reason you such a robust system is because you will be using intensive authoring tools such as Storyline, as well as other programs like Camtasia/Photoshop/SnagIt.

[@BaboNation]

Thanks for the advice :-) I'm leaning towards Apple at the moment. However, if anyone can make a good case for a particular type of PC make and model, I would entertain that too.

[@leonardovincent3606]

sounds boring and lots of writing

[@joelgardner]

HAHA! Great comment, Leonardo. It's not for everyone. :) Have a great day.